Mattress depressor and auxiliary means



G. s. BRADLEY 3,261,034 MATTRESS DEPRESSOR AND AUXILI ARY MEANS I July 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. G. S. BRADLEY J7 l2 s ATTORNEY July 19, 1966 s. BRADLEY MATTRESS DEPRESSOR AND AUXILIARY MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1964 INVENTOR. G. S. BRADLEY ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,338 14 Claims. (Cl. -317) This invention relates to an improved mattress depressor primarily of the type forming the subject matter of G. S. Bradley copending application Serial No. 329,074, filed December 9, 1963, now Patent No. 3,221,349.

That application points out the function of a mattress depressor as that improving the comfort of bed patients and others having limited mobility, the depressor serving to afford a depression or crater in only the top portion of the mattress whereby to accommodate an affected body part, such as the patients heel, for example, thereby relieving the heel, in the example chosen, of pressure and transferring the supporting function to other parts of the body, as to the more muscular part of the leg immediately adjacent to the heel. A mattress depressor of this type is far superior to expedients that have been tried before, such as inflated rings, foam rubber cushions etc.

According to the present invention, a mattress depressor of the type referred to is improved by the addition thereto of auxiliary means, mainly in the form of a foot board or the like which has the dual function of providing additional support for the bottom of the persons foot and also supporting the bed sheet, blanket, etc. in elevated position so that it does not rest on the persons toes. Experience has shown that a person lying substantially immobile in a hospital bed, for example, tends to shift downwardly, and a foot board is desirable to give the person something to push his foot against. This is especially true where a mattress depressor is used, because the mattress is depressed in the persons heel area, sometimes increasing the tendency of the person to shift. Aside from this, many patients desire to move their feet and to have something to push against, in which instances the foot board becomes desirable.

The conventional foot board is somewhat cumbersome and therefore another .object of the present invention is to combine it with the mattress depressor and to thereby include a support for the board from the depressor, or by combining the board and the depressor to utilize a common support. It is a further object to provide such structure in the form of a frame which, in one form of the invention, is adapted to embrace the mattress from one marginal edge and which, in another form of the invention, is adapted to embrace the mattress from opposite marginal edges. In both instances, it is a feature of the invention that the structure is adjustable as to position, thereby not only accommodating persons of different statures but also enabling the formation of depressions in the mattress in different areas. It is a still further object of the invention to mount the foot board or auxiliary member in such fashion that it has a slight slope upwardly and away from the reclining person, thereby improving the flexure in the persons ankle.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as preferred embodiments thereof are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying sheet of drawings, the figures of which are described below.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of one form of the structure.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elev-ational view, with portions broken away, showing the association of the structure in use on a mattress, the mattress being indicated schematically in broken lines.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective, on the scale of FIGURE 1, of the modified form of structure.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section as seen generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary rear view, with intermediate portions broken away, as seen schematically along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to and on the scale of FIGURE 4 but showing a modified form of structure.

FIGURE 8 is a similar perspective showing still another form of structure.

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 The basic parts of this structure comprise a lower ele- -ment 10 and a combination upper element and auxiliary means designated generally by the numeral 12, together with means 14 for removably interconnecting the two parts. The element 10 is essentially a somewhat oval ring of relatively large horizontal dimensions, thereby enabling it to engage a comparably large area of the under side of a mattress 16, the engaged area being denoted generally by the numeral 18. The open center of the ring is the equivalent of a recess for accommodating any downward deflection of the mattress incident to formation of an upper depression or crater therein, as indicated by the numeral 20'.

The formation of the depression results from engagement of a relatively small area of the top of the mattress by an upper element 22, in this form of the invention an integral part of the structure 12 which further includes a foot board or board-like member 24.

The interconnecting means 14 comprises an L-shaped lower part 26 rigidly aflixed to the ring or lower element 10 and an upper inverted L-shaped part 28 fixedly attached to the structure 12, as by means of a bracket 30. The L-shaped parts respectively have vertical legs 32 and 34, preferably telescopically interfitted so as to be relatively vertically movable. In the case at hand, the lower leg 32 is tubular and has a single opening therein adapted to register with any one of a plurality of cooperative openings 36 in the depending leg 34 .of the upper part 28. A removable fastening means, such as a pin 38, is inserted through selected alined openings to secure the relative vertical positions of the upper and lower part of the structure. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part has been moved downwardly to its maximum position to afford the depression 20 and the pin 38 is inserted through the uppermost alined holes.

As pointed out in the copending application referred to above, the relative sizes of the upper and lower elements 10 and 22 are such that the areas engaged at the upper and lower portions of the mattress are comparably materially different. Specifically, the lower area at 18 is considerably larger than the small area engaged by the bottom of the upper element 22. This localizes the de pression and confines it to the top of the mattress rather than squeezing the mattress equally from above and below. The relatively large area of the element 10 stabilizes the lower portion of the mattress so as to contribute to the formation of the depression. The depression forming function is here accomplished by the integral part 22 of the board 24. V

The board itself functions as a foot board as well as a means for enabling the bed clothes to be kept out of contact with the patients foot, in cases where the depression 20 is utilized to accommodate the patients heel. That is to say, the upper terminal or marginal edge of the board 24 is high enough so that regardless of the depth of the depression 20, said edge is well above the top surface of the mattress. The adjustability of the connecting means 36-38 is largely used for mattresses of different sizes; although, it can of course be used to achieve depressions of different depths.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the depression here is not exactly circutlar as it is in the copending application but the two are deemed the equivalents of each other.

The apparently pivotal connection at 36 does not atifect the function of the structure for in use the engagement between the upper element 22 and the top portion of the mattress will substantially rigidify the structure and its location will not change.

In view of the embracing characteristic of the connecting means, including the horizontal legs of the L-shaped parts 26 and 28, the structure is easily attached to the mattress, because it operates over a marginal portion of the mattress. Consequently, it may be adjusted transversely of the mattress, as for left and right feet. For other uses, it can be moved [longitudinally of the mattress when installed at either side of the mattress.

It will also be seen from FIGURES 12 and 3 that the depression 20 is substantially centered on the lower element or ring 10 and further that the plane of the front surface (\facing the patient) of the board 24 is also centered on the depression. The uses of the foot boa-rd have been set forth above and need not be repeated.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 This embodiment of the invention duplicates to a large extent that already described in FIGUR-ES 1, 2 and 3. The lower element here is in the form of a board-like structure 40, having a central opening or aperture 42 which accomplishes the function of the open center of the ring 10 in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the marginal portion of the element 40 that borders the opening 42 operating as the upper surface of the ring 10. The upper structure 44 includes an auxiliary board-like member 46 having its front or patient-facing surtace disposed in a plane inclined upwardly and away from the patient at a slight angle to the vertical. This member is carried at the inner ends ocf a pair of laterally oppositely outwardly extending L-sh-aped parts 48 and 50, having depending legs telescopically cooperative with tubular legs 011 lower L-shaped parts 52 and 54 that are rigidly afiixed to the element 40, the means for afiixation being preferably accomplished by providing the parts 52 and 54 of tubular metal, flattening the ends of same and ttastening these ends to the element 40 as by screws 56 ('FIG. 5). Selective apertures and fastening pins similar to those described above in connection with F'IGURES 1, 2 and 3 may be used here. In this instance, the (pins are shown at 58, and their use etc. will be apparent from what has gone before.

As best seen in FIGURE 6, the upper L-shaped parts 48 and 50 are connected to the back side of the board 46 by means including brackets 60. The overall framework thus provided is 1': a rectangular nature, enabling the entire mattress to be embraced across its transverse dimension. That is to say, the structure may be slipped on to the mattress over the foot thereof, so that the element 40 engages the under side of the mattress just as the element 10 did in FIGURE-S 1, 2 and 3. The upper and lower frame parts will of course be disconnected and when reassembled, the depression will be formed in the top portion of the mattress (as at 62 in FIG. by an upper depressor element 64, here in the form of a bail aftfixed to and depending from the central portion of the board 46, as by screws 66.

Another characteristic of this form of the invention is the slope of the board 46, afi'ording increased fiexure for the patients ankle, in cases in which the depression 62 is utilized to accommodate the patients heel. Here, as in the form of the invention described above, the board has substantial lateral width and the depression is of tlateral extent so that the patients heels can be accommodated by the depression. The width of the board enables lateral ilexure of the patients feet. In addition, the top edge of the board supports the bed clothes out of contact with the patients toes.

A still further feature is that the bail or depressor element 6 4 is arranged so that its mattress-engaging lower portion is offset away from the plane of the board 46, improving the contour of the depression so that its deepest part is more toward the head of the mattress. This type of modification could of course be embodied in the singleframe embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

FIGURE 7 In this form of the invention, the lower element incorporates a ring-like structure patterned after the ring 10 in FIG. 1 but incorporating the frame structure of FIGS. 4 through 6. For purposes of convenience, the (frame structure in FIG. 7 is designated generally by the numeral 72 and the board by the numeral 74. This board (has a central upper depressor or element 7 6. Other characteristics of the structure, being similar to parts already described, will be recognized without further description.

FIGURE 8 This form of the invention combines the board of FIG. 1 with the lower element Otf' IGS. 4 through 6, the frame structure being therefore comparable to the latter structure. 'For purposes of ready identification, the lower element is designated by the numeral 80, the board at 82, the frame structure at 84 and the upper element or depressor at 86.

Summary It will be seen that the different characteristics of the several forms of the invention may be embodied in a single device if desired. Further, it Will-l be apparent that on the basis of these modifications other structures will readily occur to those 'versed in the art, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a mattress depressor including upper and lower elements arranged in vertical opposition to each other and adapted to engage, respectively, upper and lower mattress portions spaced inwardly from the marginal edge of such mattress, and means operatively connected between the elements for holding the elements in closed vertically spaced apart relation with the mattress gripped therebetween, said elements being of such relative sizes that the lower element is substantially larger than the upper element and is thereby adapted to engage a relatively large area of the bottom of the mattress without material upward deformation of the mattress bottom in that area, the upper element, being materially smaller than the lower element, engaging a relatively small area of the top of the mattress directly over and generally centered on the bottom area so as to deform said small top area into a depression concentrated at the element-engaged portion of the mattress, and an auxiliary means carried by the depressor and rising therefrom to an upper terminal portion generally centered on and spaced above the upper element.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: said means has a flat surtace in a generally upright plane.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: said means is elongated in the direction of the width of the mattress.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: said auxiliary means is a board-like member having a central depending part of reduced area constituting said upper element.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: said auxiliary means is a board-like member and said upper element is carried by and depends from said member.

6. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the upper element is carried by said auxiliary means and the means connected between the elements includes a part connected to said auxiliary means and adapted to extend to the marginal edge of the mattress, a part connected to the lower element and adapted to extend to said marginal edge of the mattress, andmeans interconnecting said p-arts.

7. The invention defined in claim 11, in which: the upper element is carried by said auxiliary means and the means connected between the elements includes a pair of upper parts connected to the auxiliary means and extending in opposite directions respectively toward opposite marginal edges of the mattress, a pair of lower parts connected to the lower element and extending in opposite directions respectively toward the same marginal edges of the mattress, and means respectively interconnecting said upper and lower parts.

8. The invention define-d in claim 1, in which: said auxiliary means is a board-like member having a central depending part of reduced area constituting said upper element, and said member has a flat surface lying in a plane inclined slightly to the vertical.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, in which: said depending part is offset away from said surface so as to engage the mattress top in a portion offset from said sur- [face extended.

10. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the means interconnecting the elements is a frame-like structure adapted to embrace the mattress, said structure having a lower part connected to the lower element and an upper part connected to the upper element and the auxiliary means.

11. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the auxiliary member is a board-like structure having a widearea surface generally in an upright plane and is adapted [for positioning above and clear ocf the mattress, the upper element is carried by and depends from said structure, and the lower element has a relative large opening therethrou gh to accommodate downward deflection of portions of the mattress bottom area incident to formation of the depression by the upper element.

12. The invention defined in claim -11, in which: the means interconnecting the elements includes an L-shaped lower part rigid with the lower element and adapted to dispose its upright leg at one marginal edge of the mattress, an upper part orf inverted L-shape rigid with the auxiliary member and adapted to dispose its upright leg in depending proximity to the upright leg of the lower part, and said legs being relatively movable and releasably interconnected.

13. The invention defined in claim 11, in which: the means interconnecting the elements includes a pair of L-shaped lower parts rigid wit-h the lower element and adapted to dispose their upright legs respectively at opposite marginal edges of the mattress, a pair of upper parts of inverted L-shape rigid with the auxiliary member and adapted to dispose their upright legs in depending proximity respectively to the upright legs of the lower parts, and said legs being relatively movable and releasably interconnected.

14. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the auxiliary member is a board-(like structure having a widearea surface generally in an upright plane and is adapted for positioning above and clear of the mattress, the upper element is carried by and depends from said structure, and the lower element is a relatively large ring whose open center accommodates downward deflection of portions of the mattress bottom larea incident to (formation of the depression by the upper element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,698,077 1/ 1929 Travis et a1 5320 1,981,254 11/1934 Smith 24Z2.5 2,131,609 9/ 1938 Alexander 5--317 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A MATTRESS DEPRESSOR INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER ELEMENTS ARRANGED IN VERTICAL OPPOSITION TO EACH OTHER AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE, RESPECTIVELY, UPPER AND LOWER MATTRESS PORTIONS SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE MARGINAL EDGE OF SUCH MATTRESS, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN THE ELEMENTS FOR HOLDING THE ELEMENTS IN CLOSED VERTICALLY SPACED APART RELATION WITH THE MATTRESS GRIPPED THEREBETWEEN, SAID ELEMENTS BEING SUCH RELATIVE SIZES THAT THE LOWER ELEMENTS IS SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER THAN THE UPPER ELEMENT AND IS THEREBY ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A RELATIVELY LARGE AREA OF THE BOTTOM OF THE MATTRESS WITHOUT MATERIAL UPWARD DEFORMATION OF THE MATTRESS BOTTOM IN THAT AREA, THE UPPER ELEMENT, BEING MATERIALLY SMALLER THAN THE LOWER ELEMENT, ENGAGING A RELATIVELY SMALL AREA OF THE TOP OF THE MATTRESS DIRECTLY OVER AND GENERALLY CENTERED ON THE BOTTOM AREA SO AS TO DEFORM SAID SMALL TOP AREA INTO A DEPRESSION CONCENTRATED AT THE ELEMENT-ENGAGED PORTION OF THE MATTRESS, AND AN AUXILIARY MEANS CARRIED BY THE DEPRESSOR AND RAISING THEREFROM TO AN UPPER TERMINAL PORTION GENERALLY CENTERED ON AND SPACED ABOVE THE UPPER ELEMENT. 